Analysis

The analysis of the poem “How Do I Love Thee?” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning shows that it has a composition typical of a sonnet. The poem has 14 lines and follows the traditional sonnet rhyming scheme and rhythm. 

In the poem, the speaker tells her lover how she loves them. While the poem gives no information about the identities of the speaker or the person they are addressing , it can be assumed the speaker is intended to be the poet herself. She is addressing her lover directly using the personal pronoun “thee”. 

The poem uses simple language to describe complex ideas related to the spiritual as well as everyday instances. Poetic devices such as alliteration and the repetition of the phrase “I love thee” offer musicality and rhythm to the sonnet. The mood of the poem is romantic and hopeful.
The symbols in the poem strengthen the idea of a strong, enduring love. The speaker uses them to highlight that her feelings for her beloved cannot be measured.
You can read a more detailed analysis in the following pages.